The morning sun spilled through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the ornate bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, heart still pounding from the rush of yesterday's revelation. I was alive—a second chance granted by some mysterious system that had cast me back to the start.
The glowing message hovered silently in the air:
System Message: Main Quest — Redeem Your Sin or Perish
No room for mistakes. No resets, no do-overs beyond this.
I dressed quickly in a simple gown, my fingers trembling as I prepared to face the world anew. My mind raced with plans, but first—action.
Downstairs, the household bustled as if no time had passed. But today was different. My footsteps echoed through the grand hallways as I sought out Anna, the servant girl I had once scorned.
In the kitchen, she paused, frozen at the sight of me. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and a flicker of hope.
"I'm… sorry for how I treated you," I said, voice steady.
Anna hesitated, then nodded slowly, a tentative smile forming.
This was the first choice of many. To change hearts—to rewrite my story from villainess to heroine.
Outside, the early morning breeze carried the scent of blooming roses and distant voices of the court. The game had begun, and every step would count.
No longer a villain condemned by fate, but a woman determined to reclaim her future.
This time, I would not fail.